Blaby

Blaby's population increased by about 3,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Blaby increased by 4.1%, from just under 90,300 to 93,900.

The addition of almost 3,700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Blaby was home to, on average, 5.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Blaby

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Blaby increased by four years, from 38 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 12.0% of people in Blaby are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Blaby by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Blaby, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.7% to 9.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39.0%) households had a married couple, compared with 45.7% in 2001. The percentage of households in Blaby, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.6% to 10.3%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. The improvement brought health in Blaby close to the national average 10.7% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Blaby increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Blaby, the East Midlands and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

Blaby saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58.3%) people aged 16 to 74 in Blaby said they were employed, compared with 60.3% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 2.9%.

Across the region, West Northamptonshire saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of employed people (from 58.9% in 2001 to 57.0% in 2011).

The rate of employment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Blaby

The percentage of Blaby residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.6% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 8.0%, while the percentage of Blaby residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.8%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Blaby

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Blaby was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.2 points.

In 2011, 31.2% of respondents in Blaby gave this religion on the census compared with 17.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.8% to 29.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 62.3% said they were Christian, compared with 78.6% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 1.5% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 6.7% to 7.1%.

In Blaby, 6.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.3% in 2001. In East Midlands, 6.8% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Blaby increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East Midlands and Blaby by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Blaby, but at a slower rate than in Leicester (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Blaby).

In Blaby, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.0% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Leicester increased from 12.5% to 22.7%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 14.9%.

The rate of social housing in Blaby remained close to 7.6%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 86.6% to 80.9%.

Private renting in Blaby increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Blaby, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of married people fell here at a faster rate than in nearby Leicester.

In Blaby, the proportion of married people decreased from 59.0% in 2001 to 53.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Leicester decreased from 44.8% to 42.6%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of married people decreased from 53.4% to 48.5%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Blaby increased from 24.7% to 28.6%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.2% to 11.1%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Blaby working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.3% to 9.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 13.5% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Blaby decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Blaby, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Blaby residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.3% in 2001. The percentage of Blaby residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 12.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Blaby decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Blaby, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Blaby

In 2011, 6.1% of Blaby residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 4.2% in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 4.7% to 7.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 91.0% of people in Blaby said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.3% in 2001. About 1.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.9% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 1.0%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Blaby increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Blaby by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Blaby, while falling in nearby Leicester.

In Blaby, the proportion went up from 58.2% in 2001 to 59.3% in 2011, while across England it fell from 58.5% to 56.3%. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 61.3% to 62.1%.

The proportion of households with children in Blaby fell from 31.2% to 30.3%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 10.6% to 10.4%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Blaby residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Blaby remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Blaby by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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